Another week, another T-series digicam from Sony! At least that’s how it seems as the company continues to turn out variations of its best-selling, sleek digital cameras. The latest is the DSC-T50, a 7.2MP model with a 3x zoom and optical image stabilization. What makes it really stand out is its 3-inch touch screen LCD. Instead of loads of buttons, you make all your adjustments by tapping the screen with the supplied stylus. Very cool. We reviewed the older DSC-T9 about six months ago and liked it enough to dub it an Editor’s Choice.

 

Before we get into details, we must note the camera used for this review was not a final production model; however Sony said the only thing missing from the real deal was a blue box that holds the camera and its supplied accessories. The camera—in a blue box—will be available around October 13^th. Sony also stressed the DSC-T50 is great for indoor photography and invited the press to try the camera in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City—which is how we got our hands on it. As with any museum, the Met doesn’t allow flash photography so we had to shoot the great works of art with the camera set in the High Sensitivity mode that shuts down the flash and adjusts shutter speed/ISO for best results. How did it perform with this great backdrop? Let’s start clicking away…

 

The DSC-T50 is a beauty. I used a silver version but it’s also available in a very bright red or black. The camera measures 3.75 x 2.25 x .9 (WHD, in inches) and weighs 5.8 ounces with battery and Memory Stick Pro Duo card. I used a 1GB Sony high-speed card for the test. The front of camera is as clean as can be with understated Sony and Cybershot logos on the metal case. There’s also an eyelet for the wrist strap. Slide the front panel down and the camera powers up, exposing the 3x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens (38-114mm 35mm equivalent), the AF Assist lamp and flash. The top of the camera is also very clean with just three buttons—the shutter, power on/off and optical image stabilization on/off. On an angled edge is the mode switch for playback, still or video shooting. The DSC-T50 takes 640 x 480 pixel clips at 30 frames per second, basically VHS levels. On the left side is a compartment for the battery that’s rated 400 shots per the CIPA standard and the memory card slot. On the bottom are a metal tripod mount, speaker and port for the special combination USB/AV/DC-in cable.

 

The real standout is the 3-inch LCD screen on the back (there’s no viewfinder). As mentioned it’s a touch screen so you make all your adjustments by tapping the screen with a fingernail or the supplied stylus. This eliminates the classic four-way controller and center set button found on almost every other digicam. There is a wide/toggle switch, a key to activate the onscreen menu and a display option (with histogram). As a cool touch, icons for the two keys are backlit. The screen and keys are all set on a black background, so the LCD and silver keys really stand out. You really couldn’t ask for a cleaner layout than the DSC-T50. As stated before, it’s a beauty.

 

The Sony Cybershot DSC-T50 comes with everything you need to get started. There’s a rechargeable Lithium ion battery (NPFR1), charger, cable, wrist strap, stylus and software CD ROM. The camera has 56MB of internal memory so you can save loads of photos and run them during a slide show. No memory card is supplied and we suggest at least a 512MB high-speed Pro Duo edition.    

 

Image Courtesy of Sony

 

With the battery charged and the camera--with optical image stabilization engaged—set to high-sensitivity mode (no flash with auto adjustment of shutter speed and ISO to a maximum of 1000), it was time to take a tour of the Met. We found the camera’s response to be quite good while taking 7.2MP Fine images. The camera handled shooting objects through glass cases like a charm. Focus was quick and accurate, thanks to the AF Assist lamp and Sony’s latest imaging processor. After enjoying some really fine art, it was time to take shots outdoors. As you’d expect, the camera is even speedier in sunshine; the bright light did not impact the screen whatsoever and it was easy to frame shots in direct sunlight.

 

Changing from the initial high-sensitivity setting was child’s play. After hitting the menu key, you tap the menu icon that appears on the screen, ISO appears, tap that then all of your other options are on display including Auto, Program, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Hi-Speed Shutter, Beach, Snow and Fireworks. When you choose the one you want, any option for that setting is available, so in the case of High Sensitivity you can adjust exposure compensation and focus (Multi AF, Center AF, Spot AF and others). There are also icons for flash, self-timer, macro and resolution with options under each. I’ve had my issues with Sony in the past regarding its software but with the T50, the engineers really did an excellent job.

 

The playback mode offers some fun as well. You can set it run a variety of slide shows with the supplied background music. You choose the effects as well. You can even paint your images with a rudimentary graphics program. And when you’re in playback mode, lighted icons appear under the wide/tele zoom toggle, letting you know you can blow up your displayed images to check on the focus and quality, another nice plus. Even with the big screen, the battery held its own and the helpful onscreen display shows how much juice you have to the minute.

 

All is not perfect with the DSC-T50. Like so many other point-and-shoot compact digicams, images are subject to digital noise. And in the High Sensitivity mode you cannot control the specific ISO setting—you get what the camera gives you. For most casual photographers this is no big deal but several of the taken museum shots couldn’t go beyond a 5x7 due to noise. I took a shot of the classic “Aristotle With The Bust of Homer” and it had so many dots, it appeared to be a Pointillist work rather one of the Dutch master’s best paintings. Shots with good light were another story. Colors were accurate with very nice contrast. You’d be very pleased with them as 8x10s or even larger prints.

 

 


Images Courtesy of Sony

 

With its optical image stabilization, 3-inch touch screen LCD, sleek design and overall performance, the DSC-T50 is highly recommended. Just don’t expect all of your indoor shots taken without a flash to be museum quality.